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T. A. EDISON. GIRGUIT GONTROLLER FOR DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES. No.895,123. Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

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T. A. EDISON.

GIROU-IT- CONTROLLER FOR DYNAMO ELEGTRIG MAUHINES.

Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

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THOMAS A. EDISON, OF MENLO PARK, NEIV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE EDISONELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER FOR DYNAMG-ELECTRiC WiACHiNES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,123, dated December25, 1888.

Application filed March 16, 1883. Serial No. 88,355.

To all 1072,0722, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, of Menlo Park, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Circuit- Con trollers, (Case No. 54:3,) of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient switchor circuit-breaker especially adapted for connecting and disconnectingthe dynamo-electric machines emp'loyed for generating current inmultiple-arc systems of electrical distribution. Each of such machineshas its armature and its fieldmagnet in separate multiple-are circuitsfrom the same main conductors. W'hen, such a generator is removed fromcircuit it is necessary to break both its field and armature cir cuitsand to break the latter before the former, for if the armature was leftin circuit after the field-magnet was cut out the current from the othermachines would pass through such armature and burn out its coils. And inconnecting the machine the field-circuit should be closed somewhat inadvance of the armature-circuit so that the generation of current maybegin immediately upon the closing of the latter. It is desirable alsothat the breaking or closing of both circuits should be accomplished bythe same movement.

My invention therefore consists mainly in a circuit-breaker adapted tobreak two circuits by the same movement, and also to break one of suchcircuits before the other, such circuit-breaker being also provided withmeans for locking it when closed and for in stantaneously releasing itand breaking the circuit when desired, means for preventing. spark andheating at the contacts, and means for maintaining, if desired, aconstant field of force in each generator, such means being in additionto the closing of the field-circuit before the armature-circuit by thecircuitcontroller, the construction of the whole apparatus being suchas-to insure efficient action in all respects.

Said invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1is a diagram illustrating the connections; Fig. 2, an elevation of acircuit- (No model.)

breaker; Fig. 3, a top view of the same; Fig. 4, a sectional viewillustrating the contacts for making and breaking theari'nature-circuit, and Fig. 5 a view of one of the contactplates.

A A are dynamo-electric machines and 1 2 are main conductors. Thearmature of each machine is in a multiple-arc circuit, 3 i, from saidmain conductors and the field-magnets of each are in a circuit, 5 U.Each of said fieldcircuits contains an adjustable resistance, 13, forregulating the generation of current.

In Fig. 1., C C are switches for the armaturecircuits and D D for thefield-circuits. While in this figure the armature and field switches areshown separately for clearness, it is to be understood that they areparts of the same mechanism and are operated by the same movement, aswill be hereinafter set forth. Around the switch in each circuit isformed a shunt, T, which is opened and closed by the withdrawal orinsertion of a plug, 1), between contact-plates c 0. These plugs aretermed guard-plugs and are inserted to prevent heating at thecircuit-breaking contacts. The field guard-plug may in addition be usedfor the purpose of maintaining a constant field. Such plug would beinserted sometime'before the circuit-controller is closed, so thatcurrent may pass through the field and raise it to its normal strengthbefore the armaturecircuit is closed. The plug maybe kept in circuitafter the circuits are broken. The armature guard-plug must, however, bewithdrawn before breaking the circuits.

The circuit-controlling mechanism for the field and armature circuits ofa generator is mounted on a suitable insulating-base, E. Near one end ofsaid base are placed suitable standards, (1 (I, supporting a shaft, 6,on which is pivoted the frame F, which is provided with a handle, G. Across-piece, ll, of insulating material, is held by a rod, "2', passingacross said frame and through said cross-piece. The latter carries thecontacts for making and breaking the armature-circuit. Each of saidcontacts is a metal plate, I, having its endf h, passes through theforked extremities and the cross-piece H, forming a pivot, so that thecontact-plate has a slight swinging movement. These contact -plates,when the frame F is pressed down, enter between contacts mounted on thebase E. These are metal plates 71; 7a, set upright on the base, so thatthe movement of the contact-plates I opens and closes circuit at threepoints, thus diminishing the spark. The conductor 3 of thearmature-circuit is broken at this point, its ends being attached to thetwo end plates, 7:, one part of said conductor passing through the baseE, as shown. Each plate his divided, as shown at Z Z, into severalparts, so that such plates are elastic and will make good contact atevery point with the plates I. The upper and inner edges of the platesare beveled, so that the plates I can readily enter between them, suchplates I also being pivoted, as described, for the same purpose. Thewire 6 of the field circuit is also broken, and one terminal isconnected at the point m, from whence a conductor passes through baseEto contactplate 11. Only one of such contact-plates is shown; but it isunderstood that a similar one is placed behind it. A contact-piece, 0,carried by the frame F, makes and breaks connection between thesecontact-plates. A shunt, 7, around the contacts 7c it runs to the plates0 c, and the guard-plug b is inserted between these plates for thepurpose above mentioned. A similar guard-plug is provided for thefieldcircuit. The contact-piece 0 is, as shown, somewhat longer than theplates I, so that the field-circuit is closed somewhat before and brokensomewhat afterthe armature-circuit. Attached to another cross-piece, K,of the frame F are two rods, L L, which pass through the base E andterminate in brackets M beneath said base. Each of such rods issurrounded by a spiral spring, N, which opposes the downward movement offrame F.

A spring-catch, O, is provided for holding the frame F when the latteris pressed down,

the projection 13 engaging with the projection q upon said frame, thespring r pressing against the arm P to throw the projection 19 intooperative position, and the arm 3 acting to limit the movement of saidarm P. Sometime before the circuit-controller is closed the field guardplug may be inserted, so that when it'is desired to connect the machinethe field will already have reached its normal intensity. After thecircuit is closed the lever Q, pivoted on base E, is thrown over, sothat the notch ton such lever engages with the plate to on the arm P andprevents said arm from being pushed down. The arm R is then swung arounduntil the ring S comes opposite the contact-plates c c, and theguard-plug b is passed through such ring and between saidcontact-plates. It is therefore rendered necessary to withdraw theguard-plug before the armature-circuit is broken, this ar-' rangementbeing provided so that the circuit vice, is used to support the arm Rwhen the circuit is broken.

It is evident that this circuit-breaker may be used in any situationwhere it is desired to control two or more circuits by the samemovements.

hat I claim is l. The combination, with two or more dynamo-electricmachines, each having its fieldcoils and its armature-coils in separatederived circuits from the same main conductors, of a circuit-breaker foreach machine, controlling both its field and armature circuits by thesame movement and breaking the latter before the former, substantiallyas set forth.

2. The combination, with a circuit-breaker for the field-circuit of adynamo-electric machine, of a guard-plug in a shunt around the same,substantially as set forth.

3. In a circuit-controller, the combination, with two or more stationarycontact-plates, of a pivoted arm carrying one or more pivoted orswinging contact-plates for closing circuit between said stationaryplates, substantially as set forth.

4. In a circuit-controller provided with a guard-plug, the combination,with the arm carrying cont-act-plates, of a locking device for keepingthe circuit closed, means for releasing said device, and means forpreventing the operation of such releasing means be fore the withdrawalof the guard-plug, substantially as set forth.

5. I11 a circuit-controller provided with a guard-plug, the combination,with the springcatch for locking the contact-carrying arm when thecircuit is closed, of the arm for preventing the movement of said catch,said arm being held in position by the guard-plug and being operativeonly after the withdrawal of such guard-plug, substantially as setforth.

6. In a circuit-controller, the pivoted frame carrying swingingcontact-plates, in combina tion with upright terminal plates betweenwhich said swinging plates enter to close circuit, substantially as setforth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 13th day of February, 1883.

THOMAS A. EDISON.

